"We are the only country in history that ever deliberately changed its ethnic makeup, and history has few examples of 'diversity' creating a stable society." - Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Norteños and Sureños Hispanic gang activity in Colorado

The family of two brothers arrested in connection with the Saturday stabbing death of a 17-year-old boy said Wednesday that the victim was the aggressor, wearing gang garb and flashing signs just before the attack — a description that doesn’t match police statements.

David Rodriguez Jr., 20, and Joseph Rodriguez, 18, members of the local Norteños gang, were arrested Tuesday in connection with the beating and stabbing death of Martin Garcia on Saturday at 21st Avenue and Collyer Street.

Russell Machado of Lafayette, the Rodriguez brothers’ brother-in-law, told the Daily Times-Call on Wednesday about a local gang environment that he said politically favors the Sureños, a larger rival gang, and prompted the altercation.

“No matter where we move in Colorado, Sureños are everywhere,” he said. “People do not realize how big this gang is.”

According to police, Garcia was with friends Saturday when two carloads of boys and young men emptied onto the street and attacked Garcia, who was beaten and stabbed, in what witnesses characterized as a gang clash between the Sureño 13 and Norteño 14 gangs. The Boulder County coroner listed Garcia’s cause of death as multiple stab wounds.

Garcia’s family has said that he was not a member of the Sureños, but police said he had been previously known as a member even if he wasn’t currently active. Machado said Garcia was a well-known Sureño in Longmont, and he played the part the day of his death.

“He had a ‘13’ jersey on when they found him,” he said, adding later that Garcia’s family and friends “make it sounds like he wasn’t part of it, that he was some innocent little boy.”

So far, four have been arrested in connection with Garcia’s death.

Along with the Rodriguez brothers, Adam Mizones, 21, and Oscar Lozano, 17, have been arrested in connection with Garcia’s death.

Investigators believe Mizones stabbed Garcia with a samurai- type sword, while Lozano and the Rodriguez brothers and others beat him with baseball bats, a metal rod and brass knuckles.

The Rodriguez brothers appeared in Boulder County Court on Wednesday, but they won’t be charged until Friday.

David Rodriquez Jr. is under investigation on suspicion of second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a dangerous weapon and accessory to murder. Joseph Rodriguez is being investigated on suspicion of the same charges, except for accessory to murder.

Colorado court documents show Lozano has not yet been formally charged in the case; Mizones is expected in court April 27 to be charged.

Machado said after the attack, the Rodriguez brothers told their family a very different story than the one witnesses told police.

He said the Norteños members didn’t start the fight. The Rodriguez brothers stopped their Cadillac when they heard a rock hit it, Machado said, then Garcia, wearing a Sureño-affilated jersey, flashed gang signs and charged the car with friends in tow.

Cmdr. Craig Earhart, spokesman for the Longmont Police Department, said Wednesday he couldn’t comment on Machado’s version of the story or the details of Garcia’s clothing.

Machado said the brothers called him for advice shortly after the attack, and he told them to turn themselves in and cooperate with police.

Now he is scared they will be killed either in jail or on the street by rival gang members.

He is particularly upset that the brothers are under investigation for conspiracy to commit murder.

One of the Rodriguezes’ sisters, who asked not to be named, said their 14-year-old younger sister has been threatened with death over the incident, and that “word on the street” indicates retaliation is brewing.

Machado said he predicted to police an escalation of gang violence following a pattern of harassment from the Sureños, and he said he feels his warnings went unheeded. He also said he doesn’t believe that police protection extends to people who are at odds with the Sureño 13 gang, which is why the Norteños exist in Longmont.

“You band together and you protect yourselves,” he said of the minority Norteños gang in Boulder County. “It has been like that for hundreds of years.”

Machado said the Norteños are a much smaller gang than the dominant Sureños, but that loyalties aren’t simple because of loosely associated splinter groups within gangs and friendships that cross the lines. For instance, he said, Lozano is from one group of Norteños and the Rodriguez brothers are part of a splinter group of the gang. Machado said Mizones is just a friend.

According to the Longmont Gang Unit Web site, Machado is right about the relative strength of the gangs. It lists the Sureño 13 gang as the most active gang in Longmont and notes that it represents the largest prison gang in the United States. The Norteños, according to the gang unit, is “one of the least known” gangs in Longmont. However, it is the fastest growing.

The Rodriguez brothers’ mother, who asked that the Times-Call withhold her name for her safety, said she is sad about the outcome of the fight.

“I feel bad that the kid died because it could just as easily have been one of my kids laying there dead,” she said.

Earhart said Wednesday that police are still investigating and that more arrests are likely. He said police have interviewed about 35 witnesses and more will be interviewed. He said the investigation is likely to go on until the end of next week.

He said police are also looking into whether the men accused of beating and killing Garcia were involved in a fight with some other people earlier that day.

53 Comments:

You gangsters, no mater what crayon color you claim are lame. What the hell are you fighting over? Streets? The streets belong to the people - the city where you live! If you want to fight for your "hood" - then buy it from the city and then you can "claim it" all trully yours.

Take off your red and blue gang garg and you'll see you have more in common and in diferrence. Don't be ignorant - you're all brother, from the same culture fighting over colors of the rainbow.

Look accross the to your "rival" and you'll see that you don't even know them - and so why hate them? Over a bunch of gang sings and colored clothing? The fight is stupid as are the reasons. Get with it people - you got better things to fight about - like discrimination, poverty, educational rights... what are you going to pass on to your kids? Red and blue bandanas or an a book and better future?

All ya tryin to be gangstas are nutin but kids dat dont no how to live life how its supposed to be lived. i guarantee ya anything, ya are either gana end up in jail,or ya are gana be missing one of your family members. is dat wat use want. wat use fighting for. ure all mexicans arent u?? get a life and learn how to live it!!!!!!!

FUCK THEM SUCKA SIDE ASS NIGGAZ MAYNE IM IM PUTN THA SMASH ON ANY SKRAPA I SEE IN SAC TOWN AND DOWN SOUTH SMELL A. SMOUTH SIDE KANT HANG WIT THA NORTE GANG IN SACRAMENTO. OUT HEAR SKRAPAZ BE DIEN ON A DAYLY EVEN MY SKRAP SIDE OF THA FAMILY GETS SUMTHIN TUFF AITE PURO GARDENLAND NORTE 4 LIFE

ALRIGHT FUCK THE NUT SUCKING SIDE. U FUCKING LAMES ASS BUSTERS. U FUCKING NIGGER LOVERS. U FOOS ARE LAME 2 THE HISPANIC RACE. U FOOS ARE MONKEY LOVERS. WANNABE GANGSTER. U FOOS DON'T EVEN HAVE RIVALS IN SNORTH SIDE. ALL U FOOS DUE BEEF IT WIT THE SUR. RITE HERE IN THE VALLE 818 OR THE 213 OR 310 OR 661 ITS EITHER BEEF IT WIT THE SNORTH OR WIT THE OWN BARRIOS CLAMING THE SUR. SO YOU MONKEYS ASS LOVERS SHOULD BE PROUD. U GUYS DON'T LIVE IN A FUCKED UP ENVIROMENT. U FOOS WON'T EVEN LAST. BUT WAT EVERS. I HAD NEVER SEEN A CHAPETE IN THE SOUTH SIDE. WHY CAUSE THEY BITCHES. FUCK IT. BUSTER STILL DON'T IMPRESS ME. ZOMBIE 818DR. AOW REPRESENT THE CANOGA TOWN

FUCK ALL YOUR VARRIOS I DONT GIVE A FUCK WHERE YOUR AT EVEN IF U BANGIN THE BLUE BANO TOO.........THIS DEAD END X3 EVIL SIDE LOCOS DE LOS 8TH AVENUESSS CONTROLAMOS TODOS AND SMASHIN A NATA BUSTER ON SITE

Well All Too Who Are Disrespecting... Martin Wasz Not A "Big Time Sureno" Who Wasz Known In Longmont. He Wasz Well Into Hisz Christian Church &&' Had A Family To Take Care Of. He Wasz Not Wearin' No Damm 13 Or Blue Shirt He Wasz Wearing A Black Shirt With Nothing On It. All iAsk Isz For Evry1 Too Respect Our Loss &&' Stop Sayin' Stuff That You Don't Kno. Thank Yuh

When you're in the environment you are forced to defend yourself and become a sheep, the ignorance of the gangs is astounding, especially since they usually have PreHispanic tattoos on their bodies signifying their pride in their culture... but that's exactly who they kill.

It's sad really, our parents came here with hopes and dreams in their hearts for us, their children, and so many of you just throw that dream away when you actually have a choice to walk away.

I grew up in L.A., where all the Sureño stuff started, and yes I have family from different generations involved in it, but even the older ones will tell you it's all about misguided pride, hot headedness, and lack of opportunity or parental guidance.

Make a life for yourselves and leave that life asap... by killing each other of you are only making many right winge= conservatives happy.

When you're in the environment you are forced to defend yourself and become a sheep, the ignorance of the gangs is astounding, especially since they usually have PreHispanic tattoos on their bodies signifying their pride in their culture... but that's exactly who they kill.

It's sad really, our parents came here with hopes and dreams in their hearts for us, their children, and so many of you just throw that dream away when you actually have a choice to walk away.

I grew up in L.A., where all the Sureño stuff started, and yes I have family from different generations involved in it, but even the older ones will tell you it's all about misguided pride, hot headedness, and lack of opportunity or parental guidance.

Make a life for yourselves and leave that life asap... by killing each other of you are only making many right winge= conservatives happy.

beig in a gang since the age of 12 i understand that yes it seems cool but having a son made things way different for those who still claim and try to get ur kids ready for that life GROW THE FUCK UP im 23 years old and im not sayin I didnt do wrong n get myself into stupid stuff like this but really over something so small you kill eachother over a color and the people you know dumb stuff